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The Michigan Socialist | Features |
Party Notes
Drop all charges
against Ben Burgis!
Socialist charged for exercising rights
APRIL 26 — This morning, Ben Burgis, a
supporter of the Socialist Party and candidate for Michigan State
University Board of Trustees, was arraigned on charges of disorderly
conduct and malicious destruction of property.
The charges stem from a protest held outside the
East Lansing, Mich., recruiting station of the U.S. Marine Corps on
March 1, in response to the “regime change” in Haiti, organized by
the regime in Washington.
It is alleged that Burgis removed a Marine Corps
poster from the wall and attempted to burn it. The poster, mass
produced by the government, is valued at 10 cents.
Burgis was released on his own recognizance
pending a pre-trial hearing on May 13.
Looking at the facts of the case, it is clear that
the pressing of charges by the State of Michigan is politically
motivated.
First of all, the Marine recruiter in charge
stated in an interview to the State News that the protest was an
“American right,” implying that, in his opinion, what he saw take
place was legal and well within the bounds of the First Amendment.
(In fact, the Marine stood and watched the protest
take place, and at no time raised any concern about illegal
activity.)
Secondly, the first anyone heard of charges being
pressed was the day before the national day of protest against the
Iraq war on March 20, when a detective from the East Lansing Police
Department had Burgis go down to the station and make a statement.
“The poster was just an excuse, something they
could ‘get someone on’,” said Burgis. “The real issue was the
entirely legal antiwar protest.”
Burgis compared the charges to Robert Kennedy’s
famous line about prosecuting Mafia figures in the 1960s, that he
would have them arrested for “spitting on the sidewalk” if that was
all on which he could get them.
Socialist Party members will be showing up to
support Burgis at his pre-trial hearing. If you are interested in
helping with his defense, please contact the Michigan Socialist or
the SPMI.
Martin
Schreader |
